Tenants (UK) - does a new inventory have to be issued with a new lease when you move into a property.

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I recently moved into a new rented flat with a nice girl called bev who has been there a few months. The glass pane at the bottom of the door on my wardrobe has been broken and so there is a big hole with jagged edges covered up with sellotape. I have asked the letting agency to sort this out and they have told me that as the previous tennant of the room and my current flatmate signed off an inventory with the door in this state, there is nothing I can do about it. They are going to let me look at the prevoius inventory but not check it and sign it of myself even though they are issuing a new lease (which I have yet to sign).

This isn't right is it? I shouldn't have to accept a document that someone else has signed as being adeqaute in these circumstances shouls I?

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I've had this problem. No, it's not right, but it's a pain to get them to agree to doing a new one.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Any tips? Can I just say 'No, there is no way you can make me accept that inventory and I won't sign the lease until you issue a new one that I can sign?'

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Perhaps the easiest thing to do would just be to insist on writing a note about the existing damages somewhere on the lease agreement.

Even if this doesn't have legal force (it may do, I don't know) at least it's there in writing so they won't be able to forget about it when the time comes for you to get your deposit back.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:38 (twenty-one years ago)

That's really not what I'm after I'm afriad. They are aware that the pane was broken prior to my moving in. I want it fixed cos I'm paying loads of money for what is otherwise a beautiful flat and I don't want an unsightly big sharp hole in my bedroom.

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh right - sorry, I misunderstood. I'm kind of surprised they've let you move in before you've signed the lease, to be honest.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

You should know by now that letting agents and landlords are the only true parasites of this world and will try and bleed you of anything you are due.

{/only mild exageration)

On a tangent; the current inventory in my flat crack me up every time I read it: "One boiler, one oven, fitted carpets and blinds in every room." Cracks me up that it's so brief.

Certainly made a difference to the extremely anal ones I've had in the past. One seemingly listed "curtains with mildew stains" as a feature of the flat. Another landlord had put up a really shit piece of canvas painted with blue paint, and with a yellow @ sign painted in the middle, inventory listing: "One piece of modern art, (condition) UNIQUE". What a twat!

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Well that serves them right for taking so bloody long to put it together and get it to me in the first place, then to redraft it cos all of our details were wrong.

xpost

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm kind of surprised they've let you move in before you've signed the lease, to be honest

Ha. I moved into my new flat over a fortnight ago and have yet to see either an inventory or a lease (or a sofa, come to that). My landlord, having informed us that he wouldn't accept rent payment by cheque, has disappeared without bothering to set up an alternative payment method like a standing order.

The flat itself is fine though, so I'm not complaining... yet.

― The Lex (The Lex), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

If the original signed inventory lists the wardrobe as being in this condition, then at least they can't try and charge you for the damage at the end of your tenancy by pretending you did it (so you should check the copy of the signed inventory they are holding, just to be sure).

However, items supplied in rented accommodation should be of serviceable condition and fit for the purpose intended. Surely having a wardrobe door with dangerously jagged glass in it is a health and safety issue - if you were to accidentally stumble and fall near it, you might cut yourself badly and then you could sue them for personal damage. I know one girl who fell down the stairs of her rented house (when drunk) but successfully sued her landlord because the banister rail was slightly loose at the top of the stairs (and was listed as such on the inventory). It wasn't a safe condition for it to be in, and landlords have a duty of care in these matters.

Phone your lettings agency and tell them (very politely) it's unsafe and you'd like it sorted.

― C J (C J), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, found this. Think it is the shit. from a goverment website
(B) Legal duties of care
The law also places several legal duties on landlords. The most relevant one in the case ofrepairs is the duty requiring landlords to take reasonable care to ensure that anyone whomight reasonably be expected to be affected by defects in the state of the premises is reasonablysafe from injury or damage to their property caused by a relevant defect of which the landlordknew or ought to have known. This duty is set out in section 4 of the Defective PremisesAct 1972 and it is owed to the tenant, the tenants family and to visitors.

As this applies to tenants and guests, it is an obligation which a kind of independent of any lease type agreement (which I do no have as I haven't signed it). yes?

― hmmm (hmmm), Wednesday, 27 October 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

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